Meghan Markle may already be giving up control of her latest ambitious project as the Duchess of Sussex has asked Netflix to step in and help run her new cooking and lifestyle business, American Riviera Orchard.
The extraordinary development follows reports that Meghan struggled to find a CEO herself.
She interviewed several candidates for the role after launching the search for a business leader five weeks ago.
However, the search has “not panned out so far,” a California-based source close to Netflix told the Daily Mail.
The latest disaster is not a good sign for Meghan’s newest venture, which was only unveiled last month.
She has resorted to calling in her existing partnerships to bail her out, according to the source.
The source said: “This is something new for Netflix. It would run the lifestyle business with Meghan, developing products as spin-offs from her show. If a partnership is agreed, it’s likely that Netflix would install its own CEO to run operations.”
Meghan hopes to model the partnership on a deal that US television stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have with HGTV/Warner Brothers for their Magnolia Network. The husband and wife duo host a home renovation show, Fixer Upper, and sell lifestyle products such as bedding inspired by the programme.
According to the initial trademark application filed on February 2, American Riviera Orchard will sell home decor and kitchen items including decanters, napkin rings, cutlery, table linens, placemats and napkins, and cookbooks.
So far, the 42-year-old has promoted her new brand by sending gifts of a new jam to 50 celebrity friends, including Kris Jenner.
An insider at the time told the Daily Mail: “The brand is meant to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show for Netflix. Meghan will be making and selling products such as jams. At some point there will be a book and a blog.”
Filming for the show began last week at Meghan and Harry’s California mansion.
